According to SANA citing “an official source” suffocation
cases among army soldiers have been reported.

The source told the agency that army unit pushed into the area,
where soldiers were attacked, and seized a warehouse containing
material labeled 'Made in KSA' as well as a large number of
protective masks.

In addition, the army discovered a stockpile of chemical
poisoning antidotes with 'The Qatari-German Company for
Pharmaceutical Industries' label on them.

Clashes have been reported between rebels and regime forces in
Jobar.

Rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad accuse government
forces of attacking people in the Damascus suburbs with toxic gas
on Wednesday.

The ruling regime has dismissed the accusations.

However, some Western powers suspect Assad’s forces to be behind
the attack that the opposition claims killed anywhere between
‘dozens’ to ‘1,300’.

France says all indications show that Syrian army troops are
responsible for what it called a "chemical massacre".

"All the information at our disposal converges to indicate
that there was a chemical massacre near Damascus and that the
Bashar regime is responsible," French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius said on Saturday.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has suggested that "the
Assad regime has something to hide" as the UN team, which is
“20 minutes away” from the site of the recent attack,
“have not been able to” go there and investigate.

“Why else have they not allowed the UN team to go there?”
Hague said.

The US and European security sources have made a preliminary
assessment that the Syrian government used chemical weapon, but
still said they are seeking conclusive proof, which could take
days, weeks or longer to gather.

The White House said on Saturday that a ‘range of options’ is
available on Syria if it’s proven that Assad’s forces used
chemical weapons.

"We have a range of options available, and we are going to act
very deliberately so that we're making decisions consistent with
our national interest, as well as our assessment of what can
advance our objectives in Syria," the White House official
said. "Once we ascertain the facts, the President will make an
informed decision about how to respond," the official added.

President Obama is set to meet with his national security team
later on in the day to discuss possible options.
In response, Iran has warned the US against possible military
intervention in Syria, saying it will fuel tension across the
region.

"Iran has announced several times that there is no military
solution to the Syrian crisis, these provocative measures and
moves make regional issues more complicated and fuel
tensions," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi
said.

"The Syrian problem could be resolved only through a peaceful
solution and there is no international permit for military
meddling in Syria," he added.

FM said there is evidence showing that terrorist groups and
rebels have been using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane
arrived in Syria to try to get access for the team of
international inspectors to work at the site in the Damascus
suburbs.

The UN investigative team entered the country last Sunday to
examine and investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in
three different locations, as it was agreed with President Bashar
Assad’s government.

Following Wednesday attack, UN inspectors requested access to the
site “without delays”.

The Syrian government said that it was ready to engage in
“maximum” cooperation with UN experts, according to
Russia’s foreign ministry.

On Friday the Syrian opposition said they will ensure the safety
of UN chemical weapons experts as they pass through
rebel-controlled areas, adding that their successful arrival at
the site of an alleged gas attack near Damascus within 48 hours
was "critical."

On Saturday the Syrian opposition denied that they that rebel
forces had employed chemical weapons, making allegations that the
government was employing diversionary tactics.

“The National Coalition totally rejects the lies from the
[President Bashar] Assad regime and considers them a desperate
bid to divert attention from its repeated crimes and methods
against Syrian civilians,” said a statement released by the
main opposition bloc.

The “international community knows full well that the Assad
regime is the only party in Syria which possesses the means to
produce, use and stock chemical weapons,” the statement said.